Abstract

Of the many examples of oscillatory kinetic behaviour known, several are briefly reviewed, including those of glycolysis, the peroxidase–oxidase reaction and oscillations in cellular calcium concentration. It is shown that simple mathematical models employing allosteric rate laws are sufficient to explain the instability of the steady state and the appearance of sustained oscillations. The cAMP-signalling systems of cellular slime moulds and the dynamics of intracellular calcium oscillations illustrate the importance of such oscillophores to inter- and intra-cellular communication and differentiation.

enzyme

feedback

kinetics

non-linearity

oscillation

Footnotes

The Behaviour of Enzymes in Cells, a Biochemical Society-supported meeting held at Trinity College Dublin, 14 September 2002